Monday, 18 February 2019

NCIA CONTINUES TO LEAD REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IN THE NORTHERN REGION

The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) continues to drive the Government’s regional strategies in the economic development agenda, while addressing regional development imbalances and to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation.

In executing this role, NCIA works in tandem with other ministries, agencies, stakeholders and private entities to accelerate the socioeconomic development of the region.

NCIA has transformed in line with the Government’s aspiration to become a more strategic, focused and effective vehicle for the Government to deliver regional development agenda.

Ten (10) initiatives have been implemented to date which include greater focus on delivering high impact projects, enhancing governance and integrity, improving business processes, optimising costs and resources while consolidating operations.

As an Implementation Authority, NCIA has restructured its governance structure with the formation of “Jawatankuasa Pemandu Negeri (JPN)” which is chaired by the Chief Minister and Menteris Besar of the respective state governments to discuss and plan the implementation of policies and initiatives approved by the NCIA Council and by ensuring an effective delivery of the planned projects.

The progress of NCER projects are well on track and NCIA is undertaking various collaborative efforts to ensure its effectiveness.

In Perlis, upgrading of the Padang Besar Railway Terminal is underway to enhance service efficiency and higher container handling volume by KTMB, which will see an increase of the handling capacity from 110,000 to 150,000 TEUs per year and increase yard capacity from 2,804 to 3,124 TEUs.

The Kedah Science & Technology Park (KSTP) in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah is a new industrial park that focuses on science & technology clusters and establishment of global research centre. Its design and physical planning are completed and pending issuance of full Planning Permission.

KSTP will complement the overall development of the Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border Economic Zone (SBEZ), a mixed development comprising industrial park, logistic hub and commercial zones.

In Perak, NCIA will be assisting in the promotion of Pulau Pangkor as a tourist destination by leveraging on tax incentives and duty free status to attract more private investment into the island.
In Penang, NCIA facilitated the inception of the Collaborative Research In Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST) in 2011 which to date has approved 115 collaborative R&D projects, with 5,400 industry-relevant graduates trained.

One of the key collaborative efforts between industry and academia achieved is the Gan-On-Gan Programme, which has catalyzed a single private investment of RM1.4billion.
In promoting investment to the NCER, NCIA will continue to enhance the region’s ecosystem by addressing investors’ needs, fostering talent and enhancing the ease of doing business.

Since 2009, NCIA’s initiatives played a crucial part in the effort to boost the workforce skills in key industries, through collective efforts and cooperation between NCIA and its stakeholders.
In 2017, the region’s GDP has grown to RM186 billion and is on track for the region to be a RM300 billion economy by 2025.

NCIA’s various initiatives have successfully created 119,819 jobs in the region, majority of which are skilled positions. Looking forward, high impact projects in the pipeline will enable the cumulative job creation of 161,197 for NCER by 2025. To achieve these targets, NCIA will focus on key initiatives such as talent and capacity building; enhance private sector participation; and social and shared value programmes by advancing the business ecosystem.

Earlier today, NCIA received a working visit from the Minister of Finance, YB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, who is also a member of the NCIA Council. YB Tuan Lim was briefed on the achievements and outcomes of the projects undertaken in NCER, as well as on the progress updates of on-going key projects.

The meeting also focused on exploring approaches for developing NCER by aligning priorities to synchronise with the Government’s direction and strategies.

YB Tuan Lim reiterated that the four NCER states will be realigned to become entrepreneurial states, wherein all efforts will be directed at attracting and securing private sector involvement, especially for projects that attain matching funds. This will empower NCER to sustain and accelerate regional development that is fuelled by private sector investment, relying on the 4P partnership that involves the Public, Private, Professionals and the People in managing and driving the projects.

Embracing the entrepreneurial state model particularly in the manufacturing, agriculture and tourism sectors will encourage innovation and creativity that will augur well for the nation's economy and benefit the rakyat, he added.